(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Nov. 8, 2018) - - - Columbia State Community College was recently recognized as a Tree Campus USA college by the Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Campus USA is designed to award national recognition to college campuses promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.

"I am proud of all the hard work of the college's Campus Tree Advisory Committee," said Tim Hallmark, Columbia State director of facilities services and safety. "The efforts of the team in implementing the core principles of the Tree Campus USA Program will help ensure the beauty of the campus for many years to come."

To earn Tree Campus USA recognition, the college or university must meet the following criteria:

• Establishment of a Campus Tree Advisory Committee
• Evidence of a Campus Tree Care Plan
• Verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the Campus Tree Plan
• Involvement in an Arbor Day Observance
• Institution of a Service Learning Project aimed at engaging the student body

Only nine colleges in Tennessee have received the Tree Campus USA distinction - only two are community colleges.

About the Arbor Day Foundation.

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Their vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

Photo Caption: Tim Hallmark, director of facilities services and safety; James (Jimmy) Humphrey, facility services maintenance utility worker; Heather Gauthier, Columbia State student and Tree Campus SGA Representative; Brent Holt, maintenance, grounds and utility worker; and Virgle Bell, facilities worker. (Not Pictured: Paul Keltner, City of Columbia director of development services; and Paige Smith, Columbia State instructor of agriculture.)